After leaving Heaven Dou City, the two headed south.
There were no horse-drawn carriages, nor fixed routes. The buildings along the official road became fewer and fewer, replaced by vast farmlands and forests.
Qian Renxue walked beside Lin Yuan, stopping every now and then to look around. Farmers driving oxcarts by the roadside, people working in the fields, and children chasing chickens in the distance.
She used to sit in the Crown Prince's residence, where all she saw every day were "the population of a certain prefecture," "the grain tax of a certain place," and "how was the harvest of a certain city this year." Those things, written on paper, were just a string of numbers.
But once they truly emerged, the numbers gained a face, a voice, and a life.
Lin Yuan.
"Um?"
Qian Renxue pointed to a spot not far away.
Why do the people over there tie the grass together?
Lin Yuan followed her gaze and saw several farmers bundling the cut wheat stalks into bundles.
"Start a fire."
"Oh."
After taking a few steps, Qian Renxue asked again:
What about over there?
Drying grain.
What about that one?
"Scarecrow."
Why act like an adult?
Lin Yuan stopped and turned to look at her.
" Xue'er."
"Um?"
"What have you been doing all these years in Heaven Dou?"
Qian Renxue took it for granted.
"Playing the Crown Prince."
Lin Yuan was unable to refute it.
From a young age, she was taught court etiquette, imperial politics, Soul Master cultivation, how to judge people, and how to control the court.
No one taught her why there was a scarecrow in the field.
Qian Renxue, however, felt no shame whatsoever. If she didn't know, she would ask, and then continue reading.
Around noon, the two stopped at a small tea stall by the roadside.
The tea stall was small, with a few wooden tables, and the owner was an elderly man in his sixties.
The two had just sat down when an argument broke out nearby.
"Old man! You promised fifty Copper Soul Coin yesterday, how come it's eighty today?"
A burly mercenary slammed his fist on the table and stood up.
The tea stall owner turned pale.
" Lord Soul Master, grain prices have recently gone up, and there are seven of you in total..."
Did I ask you?
Bang!
The mercenary shattered the corner of the table with a single blow, and three Soul Ring— one white and two yellow—rose from beneath his feet.
Soul Elder.
Several diners nearby immediately lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
The mercenary sneered.
" Soul Master eating a meal here is giving you face, and you still dare to take money?"
The old man quickly waved his hand.
"No, we won't take it anymore."
That's more like it.
The mercenary sat down again, and the others burst into laughter.
Lin Yuan picked up his teacup and took a sip.
Qian Renxue glanced at him.
"You're not going to do anything about it?"
"You want to get involved?"
A little.
"Then we'll take care of it."
Qian Renxue put down her teacup.
"Boss."
The old man quickly ran over.
What are your orders, young lady?
How much did their table cost?
The old man paused for a moment, stunned.
"Eighty... eighty Copper Soul Coin."
Qian Renxue took out a Silver Soul Coin from her Soul Tool and placed it on the table.
"The extra cost will be the table."
The smile on the mercenary's face gradually disappeared.
"Girl, are you meddling in my business?"
Qian Renxue finally looked at him.
"A three-ring Soul Elder, that's impressive?"
The man's face darkened.
"Court death!"
The Soul Ring had just lit up when Qian Renxue stood up.
Bang!
With a muffled thud, the mercenary slammed onto the table.
Just as the others were about to make their move, three streaks of blue-green arrows grazed past their feet and embedded themselves in the ground.
boom!
Gravel flew everywhere.
The group froze instantly.
Qian Renxue glanced at them.
"Shall we continue?"
No one spoke.
The mercenary who was first pinned down struggled to his feet, his face alternating between pale and flushed.
Lin Yuan put down his teacup.
"Meal money."
The mercenary gritted his teeth, pulled out a Gold Soul Coin, and placed it on the table.
"Is that enough?"
Lin Yuan looked at the old man.
The old man nodded repeatedly.
"Enough, enough!"
"Then get lost."
The group didn't dare say another word, picked up their companion, and slunk away.
The sounds only returned to the teahouse after they had gone far away.
"Good!"
Someone shouted it out first, and a cheer immediately erupted from the surrounding area.
Qian Renxue was taken aback.
She once dealt with a corrupt official in the palace, and all the officials would praise the Crown Prince's wisdom, and the next memorial would be sent up quickly.
But now, just by getting a few Soul Master who never pay for their meals to obediently pay up, these ordinary people are laughing happier than anyone else.
The tea stall owner walked over with the Gold Soul Coin in his hand.
"Young lady, this is too much money."
Qian Renxue shook her head.
"They're compensating you; keep it."
The old man looked at her for a long time, then suddenly smiled.
"Then this meal is on me, old man."
Qian Renxue subconsciously said:
"Need not."
"Yes, yes."
The old man had already turned around.
Before long, two steaming bowls of noodles were served, each topped with an extra egg.
Qian Renxue stared at the egg, remained silent for two seconds, and then suddenly smiled.
Lin Yuan lowered his head and ate his noodles.
What are you laughing at?
"Nothing."
She picked up an egg and put it into Lin Yuan's bowl.
"A reward for you."
Lin Yuan looked at the bowl.
I shot three arrows.
"So?"
"Worth at least two."
Qian Renxue immediately picked up the egg and put it back.
"Then don't eat it."
Lin Yuan reached out with his chopsticks and snatched them back.
"You send it out and then take it back?"
I regret it.
"It's too late."
The two of them took turns eating with their chopsticks, but in the end, the egg still ended up in Lin Yuan's mouth.
Qian Renxue was so angry that she kicked him under the table.
In the afternoon, the two left the teahouse and continued on their way.
Along the way, they passed through a village where several children were chasing each other by the roadside. One of the little girls ran too fast and bumped into Qian Renxue's leg.
The little girl turned pale with fright.
"Sister, I'm sorry!"
Qian Renxue looked down at her, paused for a moment, and finally squatted down to brush the mud off her clothes.
"Run slower next time."
The little girl nodded vigorously, then stared at Qian Renxue a few more times.
"You're so beautiful, sister."
Qian Renxue's lips instantly curled into a smile.
"You have such a sweet tongue."
She took out a piece of candy from her Soul Tool and handed it over.
Lin Yuan stood to the side watching.
When did you buy it?
" Heaven Dou City."
How come I didn't know?
Do I need to tell you when I buy something?
"Then why is there only one?"
Qian Renxue glanced at him.
"It's not for you."
Lin Yuan: "..."
The little girl ran away, clutching the candy.
Qian Renxue was clearly in a better mood.
She watched the smoke rising from the village chimneys and suddenly said:
"When I saw these villages in the memorials to the emperor before, I always thought they were all pretty much the same."
"And now?"
"Now I feel..."
Qian Renxue thought for a moment.
"If anyone ever tells me again that the death of dozens of people in a village is a small matter..."
Her eyes turned slightly cold.
I'll let him come and take a look here by himself first.
Lin Yuan chuckled.
"This trip was worthwhile."
Qian Renxue turned her head.
You brought me out here just to show me this?
"I guess so."
"Anything else?"
"Stay with me."
Qian Renxue paused for a moment, then the corners of her mouth slowly turned up.
"That second reason is not bad."
By evening, the nearest town was still dozens of miles away.
The two decided to go into the nearby woods and find a clearing near the stream.
Lin Yuan started a fire.
Qian Renxue sat on the rock and watched for a while.
"I'll do it."
"You can?"
"It's just starting a fire, isn't it?"
She raised her hand, and a wisp of golden flame fell.
boom!
The fire instantly shot up more than two meters high.
Lin Yuan silently took a step back.
Qian Renxue: "..."
A few breaths later, she casually withdrew her Soul Power.
"Didn't it catch fire?"
"Um."
Lin Yuan looked at the pile of firewood that had begun to emit black smoke.
"We almost burned the whole forest down."
"Shut up."
Lin Yuan sat down with a smile.
Night gradually enveloped the woods.
The campfire flickered, and the stream flowed between the rocks.
There were no memorials, no court officials, and no one by her side to remind her what she should do.
Qian Renxue sat by the fire, hugging her knees, and suddenly looked up.
Through the gaps in the leaves, countless stars filled the night sky.
She looked at it for a long time.
Lin Yuan.
"Um."
"The sea of stars you mentioned... is it behind those stars?"
Lin Yuan also raised his head.
"Further than that."
"Very far?"
"So far that even Titled Douluo could never reach that place in his entire life."
Qian Renxue remained silent for a while, then suddenly turned her head.
Will you go in the future?
Lin Yuan did not answer immediately.
The campfire crackled softly.
After a moment, he said:
"Meeting."
Qian Renxue's gaze paused slightly.
What about me?
Lin Yuan turned to look at her.
You want to go?
"I'm asking you."
Qian Renxue stared into his eyes.
"If one day you really have to leave Douluo Continent, what are you going to do with me?"
Lin Yuan looked at her for a few seconds, then reached out, grasped her wrist, and gently pulled it.
Qian Renxue crashed into his arms.
She looked up instinctively.
Lin Yuan lowered his head and gently touched her forehead with his.
"Of course I'll bring it."
The seriousness in Qian Renxue's eyes slowly melted away, and the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile.
That's more like it.
She adjusted to a comfortable position, leaned on Lin Yuan's shoulder, and continued to look at the starry sky above.
"It's a deal then. From now on, wherever you go, I'll go."
Lin Yuan took her hand.
"Good."
The woods fell silent, save for the soft crackling of the campfire.
Several miles from the camp, a pair of scarlet eyes were slowly opening in the darkness.